Meloidogyne fallax detected in sports turf in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, Meloidogyne fallax (EPPO A2 List) was first reported in 2011 (in England and Northern Ireland) when it was found in sports turf. In 2013, another outbreak was found in a leek crop in Staffordshire on which M. fallax caused considerable stunting (outbreak currently under eradication). In October 2015, new outbreaks were reported in Northwestern England in sports turf at 3 different locations within approximately 15 km of each other. These outbreaks were discovered when damaged areas were noted in the turf and samples were sent to a diagnostic laboratory (morphological and DNA sequencing techniques). Two outbreaks were found in dense urban areas on brownfield sites, and one outbreak was found in a rural area surrounded by agricultural land (arable crops). The total infested area is under investigation but it is estimated to cover more than 5 ha. It is noted that all 3 infested sites have used the same main contractor to build and maintain the sports grounds. A containment strategy is in place to prevent the spread of M. fallax from the currently infested sites onto agricultural land. Guidance will be provided through relevant organizations responsible for sports turf, to encourage good practice and to help determining whether M. fallax could be present in other sports sites. It is noted that more than 30 other sites of sports turf across Great Britain have been tested over the last few months but M. fallax has not been found.
The pest status of Meloidogyne fallax in the United Kingdom is officially declared as: Present, subject to official control.
Sources
NPPO of the United Kingdom (2015-11).